8 MISC. PUBLICATION 8 2, U. S. DEPT. OF AGEICULTUEE 



source in the national forests. Experience in many countries has 

 shown that public ownership, or regulation equivalent to public 

 ownership of the forests covering important watershed values, is 

 essential to general welfare. 



Regulation of the use of national-forest grazing lands has brought 

 order out of the chaos of earlier unrestricted use and has stabilized the 

 grazing of mountain ranges by the allotment of ranges, development 

 of new pastures, and eradication of poisonous plants. 



Through its development of roads, trails, and camp grounds, the 

 Forest Service has benefited millions of transients and campers, 

 picnickers, and summer visitors to the national forests, and this use of 

 the forests is increasing rapidly each year. 



Free timber, or timber sold at cost, is available to prospectors, 

 settlers, and farmers in and near the forests. 



The national forests contain the breeding grounds and range for 

 wild life, and much of the hunting and fishing grounds open to free 

 public use. The Forest Service cooperates with the division of fish 

 and game. State Department of Natural Resources, in protecting and 

 increasing the supply of fish and game. Every forest ranger is a 

 special deputy game warden, serving without compensation from the 

 State. Game and fish are regarded as major resources of the national 

 forests. All revenue from fishing, hunting, and trapping licenses goes 

 to the State.f 



From none of these does the Federal Government receive a direct 

 money return, yet in the aggregate these form a major contribution 

 to the social and economic welfare of the State. 



CONCLUSIONS 



The national forests of California under the present form of admin- 

 istration are contributing to the State and counties $346,000 more 

 per year than would be received if the potentially taxable Govern- 

 ment land in the forests was in private ownership. 



This yearly contribution will steadily increase as the national- 

 forest resources come to be fully utilized under an economic process 

 of development. 



The Federal Government, by its payment of 25 per cent of all 

 receipts to the State and counties, is making a far more liberal return 

 than any industry could stand. 



The total expenditures of the Federal Government for protection 

 and administration of the national forests of California exceed the 

 receipts by more than $2,000,000 annually. 



Up to June 30, 1929, Federal money amounting to over $83,000,000 

 has been authorized for the specific purpose of improving national-for- 

 est roads and trails, and of this amount the allocation to California 

 has been in excess of $13,000,000. 



Federal administration and protection of national forests insures 

 permanence, stability of management, and the highest use of the nat- 

 ural resources of the forests for the benefit not only of California 

 but of all the people of the Nation. 



U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1930 



For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. - - - - Price 5 cents 



